Stuart man accused of choking girlfriend

STUART - A Stuart man on Tuesday was being held without bail at the Martin County Jail after his girlfriend accused him of choking and hitting her, according to a Martin County Sheriff's Office arrest report.

Deputies on Monday charged Howard Hawk, 46, of the 5100 block of Southeast Driftwood Avenue, with felony battery by strangulation after an early Monday morning fight, the report states.

The incident occurred about 3 a.m. Monday when Hawk became angry at the girlfriend and accused her of infidelity, the arrest report states.

The girlfriend said she walked away from Hawk, but he followed her to the back porch. Then, he put his right hand around her neck to choke her and next pulled her hair and finally hit her on the top of the head, the report states.

The girlfriend had a small scratch on her neck and a black, swollen eye. However, she said the eye injury occurred a week ago.